Trial of Nico Papke for murder of Phuket girlfriend begins

PHUKET: The trial of German national Nico Papke for the murder of his Thai girlfriend in Phuket last year began on Monday (April 30), with the Phuket Prosecutor moving ahead with the charge of murder under Section 288 of the Thai Criminal Code.

Nico Papke recounts his steps for police after his arrest for the murder of Pischa Lek” Nampadung, a 35-year-old beautician at a salon in Rawai, Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Ms Pischa’s body was found on July 10 last year dumped in the Phuket jungle, wrapped in blankets and bound with tape, beside Muang Chaofa Rd. Photo: Supplied / Facebook

If found guilty, Papke faces 15 to 20 years imprisonment, or the death penalty*.

Papke, who worked as a fitness instructor in Rawai, initially confessed to killing his girlfriend Pischa “Lek” Nampadung, a 35-year-old beautician at a salon in Rawai,

However, during his first court appearance in October Papke changed his plea from guilty to not guilty, claiming that he did not intend to kill Ms Pischa.

Regardless, Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Somsak Sopakarn told The Phuket News at that time that police would forge ahead with the murder charge.

“We have enough evidence to prove that Papke murdered Ms Pischa and that he also attempted to conceal her body,” Col Somsak confirmed. (See story here.)

Ms Pischa’s body was found on July 10 last year dumped in the Phuket jungle wrapped in blankets and bound with packing or insulation tape beside the road about 600 metres along the newly graded track leading into the jungle north of the cement factory on Muang Chaofa Rd. (See story here.)

However, a surprise twist in proceedings is that according to the Phuket Provincial Court court register, Papke now also faces a charge involving a Category 1 narcotic.

The Phuket News today (May 4) was unable to confirm the exact drugs charge that Papke now faces.

Papke is scheduled to appear in court at the next session if his trial, scheduled for June 5.

* Although punishments for heinous crimes and major narcotics offences still carry the death penalty under the Thailand penal code, Thai courts over recent years have been increasingly unwilling to hand down sentences of capital punishment.

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Complete dirtbag. Anyone capable of taking a persons life like he did does not deserve to enjoy any more freedom on this planet. He can rot in hell...or a Thai jail...which is pretty close I would imagine.